What Is the Expected Lifespan of a Commercial Generator?

8/26/2019 (Permalink)

A commercial generator can help provide backup power to your building while you wait for emergency services to arrive

If an emergency ever causes the power to go out in your commercial building in Grand Manor, AZ, a generator can help provide backup power to your building while you wait for emergency services or a restoration specialist to arrive. Whether you are already own one of these useful machines or are considering buying one for your business, you will need to know what you need to do to keep it ready and running for when an emergency strikes.

Expected Lifespan

While the actual lifespan of your machine will depend on how the type of device, the amount it is used, and how well it is maintained, the expected lifespan for the average standby generator is anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 hours. These machines are typically not used very often throughout a given year and are only ran during weekly exercises and power outages. So they often last 20 to 30 years before needing to be replaced.

Common Problems

There are several generator problems that can occur that can potentially reduce the lifespan of the machine or leave your business without power if an outage does occur. Here are a few to look out for:

• Bad belts that might be too dry or cracking
• Low coolant or oil which can cause other issues such as overheating, broken pistons, or engine failure
• Low fuel or bad fuel
• Burnt electrical components, coils, or other parts
• A dead battery or bad connection
• Block heater hose failure
  

Preventative Maintenance

The best way to prevent common issues and to help your machine last for its expected lifespan is to perform regular preventative maintenance. It helps to create a schedule that includes weekly tasks, monthly visual checks, the servicing of critical systems, and semi-annual inspections.
You never know when an emergency might happen, which is why it is important to make sure your building’s generator is ready to go. With the correct maintenance plan in place, your machine can give you peace of mind for many years to come.